Card game and method of playing card game

Abstract

The present invention provides a card game and method of playing a card game which enables a player to purchase an option to buy a bonus card to better the player's hand. The method of playing the game includes a dealer accepting an optional insurance fee from each player of the card game who chooses to pay the optional insurance fee and accepting a first wager from each player. The dealers then deals a selected number of cards to each player. After dealing these cards to each player, the dealer allows each player to elect in turn to place an additional wager. If a player does not place an additional wager when requested by the dealer, the player folds and is no longer in the game. The dealer then deals cards to each player who elects to place additional wagers. After the dealer has dealt each player a standard number of cards, the dealer deals a bonus card to a player who paid insurance fees and if the player has a losing hand. After bonus cards have been dealt, the dealer determines if the cards, including the bonus card if the bonus card was dealt, of the player yield a combined rank that equals or exceeds a preselected winning rank. The players are paid a winning sum if the combined rank equals or exceeds the preselected winning rank.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A computer system for a plurality of players to play a card game using representations of a deck of cards, the system comprising: 
       an input device for each of the plurality of players to input data for the play of the card game;  
       a processor coupled to the input device for receiving the input data from the input device; and  
       a display device coupled to the processor for displaying the display information;  
       wherein the processor provides each of the plurality of players with an option to select from the group consisting of receiving insurance and declining insurance;  
       wherein the processor receives an option selection from each of the plurality of players, the option selection for each of the plurality of players selecting to receive insurance comprising receiving an insurance fee;  
       wherein the processor deals a predetermined number of cards to each of the plurality of players, such that each of the plurality of players has a hand;  
       wherein the processor determines whether the hand of each of the plurality of players is a losing hand;  
       wherein the processor provides a bonus card to each of the plurality of players receiving insurance and having a losing hand;  
       wherein the processor determines whether each of the plurality of players has a winning hand; and  
       wherein the processor outputs display information to the display device.  
     
     
       2. The computer system of claim  1 , wherein the input device comprises a voice synthesizer. 
     
     
       3. A device for at least one player to play a card game with representations of a deck of cards, the device comprising: 
       a display for displaying the card game, including the representations of a deck of cards;  
       a processor for receiving selections from the at least one player for play of the game, for determining progress of play, and for processing and displaying a graphical user interface; and  
       an input device for receiving selections from the at least one player;  
       wherein the processor provides at least one player with an option to select from the group consisting of receiving insurance and declining insurance;  
       wherein the processor receives an option selection from each of the at least one player, the option selection for at least one player selecting to receive insurance comprising receiving an insurance fee;  
       wherein the processor deals a predetermined number of cards to each of the at least one player, such that at least one player has a hand;  
       wherein the processor determines whether the hand of at least one player is a losing hand;  
       wherein the processor provides a bonus card to at least one player receiving insurance and having a losing hand;  
       wherein the processor determines whether at least one player has a winning hand; and  
       wherein the processor outputs display information to the display.  
     
     
       4. The device of claim  3 , wherein the device comprises a terminal. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim  3 , wherein the device comprises at least one terminal on a network. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim  5 , further comprising a server on the network. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  6 , wherein the at least one terminal and the server are coupled via a coupling. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  7 , wherein the coupling comprises one from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim  6 , wherein the at least one terminal comprises one selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame computer, and a telephone device. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim  6 , wherein the server comprises one selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a main frame computer. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim  6 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim  3 , wherein the device is a slot machine.